Old times with old love

Elizabeth was grateful when he left, had he heard what she had said? Had she offended him? She hoped not. She did find him a jerk, but she couldn't help it, she liked him.

She shook her head, no romance, none at all. He didn't care for her, even if he did before he didn't now. And the most important thing was her getting back to her time. She desperatly missed the sound of her stereo.

Setteling herself in plans to find a way back she nestled down into sleep.

Gregory

It was a hot, stuffy day, the sort you get after many weeks of rain when the air vibrates with the thrum of society. I walked down to the station, feeling the sun beat against the back of my neck and stimulating my irritation. The train was late. I scowled as I checked my pocket watch and then finally it arrived and I boarded after having paid money I could not afford on the ticket.

The journey was pleasantly short but unpleasantly unpleasant and I was very grateful to step off and stroll around the corner to see my beautiful factory. I wasn't quite so happy to see the ragged men and children sitting outside, all with dirty, grim faces and those abysmal signs.

"They're perfectly within their right I'm afraid," my solicitor informed me, tipping his hat and then handing over a wad of paper.

"This is the new contract the trade union want you to sign."

"Any changes?" I asked. He shook his head. "A wasted journey then." I tore the contract up and handed the pieces back to him. "Keep negotiations open. Write to me at my cousin's address."

The return journey was much more pleasant with thoughts of courting Elizabeth filling my head. She would make a suitable wife though some of that out-spoken behaviour would have to be culled.

*plot twist!!! Heather get on MSN and I'll explain my idea.*

Elizabeth woke much later. She didn't know how long she had slept only that she had been asleep a very long time. Even though she was awake she didn't open her eyes, not really wanting to. She just wanted to go back to sleep.

But hunger drove her eyes open. She slowly opened her eyes and saw her living room. From the floor. She sighed, she had dreamed the whole thing. But she wanted to go back, she liked it there, much better than she had in the real world.

The real world. Home. She sighed and shoved herself off of the floor.

Gregory

When I entered the house it was to find it all asunder. The sound of footsteps echoed through the halls and avid searchers hurried past me, worry etched deep within their features like grooves worn in wood by the persistent chisel. I caught Isabella's arm as she tried to pass me and for a moment she looked up at me with glassy eyes. I shook her gently once and she blinked.

"Oh, Gregory, how early the hour is that you return and yet I fear not early enough!"

"Whatever is the matter, sweet Belle?" The nickname I had not used since our youth seemed to at once confuse and please her so that she paused and drew my agony out further as a blacksmith does when he extends the red hot metal, drawing it thinner and longer to form the blade.

"Miss Elizabeth has left and quite without warning. Not a letter or a note or anything."

"She is gone?"

"Yes, we have searched the house. I am worried that she is not well enough to be out of doors and yet where else could she have gone?"

"Have you searched the grounds?"

She searched through the house looking for something to eat, not realizing for a second what she was wearing. She made herself a thing of Ramen noodles and plopped down into a chair. IT was only then that she realized she was still wearing the gown she had dreamed she was in.

But it wasn't a dream. It was real. All of it was. But...Why was she back? She didn't want to be back. She wanted to be there. But she didn't know how to get back there!

Slurping up the remains of her soup she pulled a long black skirt on over top her gown-as to look less conspicious- and headed out the door, maybe that alley held the key...

Isabelle

"No, good idea. Yes, search the grounds!" I ran to the door and slipped my feet into a pair of shoes that lay against the wall. Gregory, who had not yet taken his off, preceded me.

"Check with the gardener!" Gregory's voice called and by the time my feet were suitably covered, he was already out of sight. I followed his instruction and sought out the man named Joseph who informed me that he had not seen a girl.

"Are you sure?" I asked him.

"Yes, quite sure, miss. I would be knowing if anyone came through here tho' it do be possible I did not hear her while I was doing the hedges."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

"Not at all miss."

Elizabeth wandered around the alley for a while, pacing, trying to remember exactly how to get back. Flustered she leaned against the wall of a building. Tears started to flow down her cheeks and the world started to go black around her. She started as she realized that this is what happened last time.

She woke face down on the ground, and she didn't want to move.

Gregory

I scanned the grounds, searching for Elizabeth and then I caught sight of a hand and a scrap of black protruding from behind a tree in the distance. Could it be her? And if so, was she hurt? I hurried over there and found her sprawled in the grass, face down wearing the strangest of black skirts.

"Should you not be inside sitting by the fire?" I asked, crouching so that I could reach her level. She looked up and then pulled herself into a sitting position, a stray lock of hair slipping in front of her face. She brushed it back.

"It worked," she said with a smile.

"'It worked'?" I quoted. "If you mean worrying my cousin then be sure that it did but whatever other purpose could you have wished to fulfil out here? And when did you change your outfit - what is it that you wear?"

"It was never my intention to worry your cousin, I honestly have no idea where I am or how I got here, or what that even is." She was suddenly swept with an overwelming tired feeling. Once Gregory helpped her stand her knees buckled beneath her and she collapsed.

"Whoa," Gregory said. "Are you all right?"

All she could do was groan.

Gregory

"Easy does it," I murmured as I helped her up for the second time and half carried her back to the house where I settled her in her room and then left against all her protests.

"Wait, where are you going?" she asked.

"To call off the search," I replied, sounding colder than intended as I closed the door with a soft click. It did not take long to reign in the household but then Isabelle was nowhere to be found and I recalled sending her in search of the gardener. The weather outside was turning foul again. I took what I presumed to be one of Julian's coats and headed out, glancing briefly up at Elizabeth's window in which I could see the outline of a figure.

Elizabeth settled into the sheets of the bed and fell asleep almost instantly. She was back. This was her home, she had nobody to miss her there. Here, here she was missed. But she had no past, no money, nothing. But she was missed.

"Dear Miss Elizabeth!" Isabelle exclaimed when she entered the room, "you gave us quite a fright!"

"Dear cousin!" Gregory scolded, "she's sleeping."

Elizabeth groaned and sat up slightly, "not anymore I fear"

Isabelle

"Sorry that I woke you. I do believe my concern led me to act rashly. We will leave you to sleep." I took Gregory's arm and together we left the room, pausing outside to glance at each other and try to take command of the situation.

"You should go sleep," I told him, noting the weariness of his countenance.

"I could not sleep during the day. Come, we shall go downstairs and you will play for me. Perhaps then I will feel drowsy."

"If that is what you wish," I readily agreed as we descended. "But let me send for food first. Do you think I should have something sent up to miss Elizabeth?"

"I do think so. Before she falls to sleep again mind."

Elizabeth was on the verge of falling asleep again when a bowl of soup was brought up to her.

"Madam Elizabeth bid me to bring this up," the maid Martha said.

"Thank you," Elizabeth said and started eating.

"Also Mr. Gregory is at the door wishing to speak to you, should I allow him to enter."

"You may," Elizabeth said between slurps.

Oh and I have an idea for something Heather, I'll post it later I have to go now.

Gregory

I was irritated when the maid actually asked her permission before permitting me access to the room. In fact, I considered turning around and leaving but instead, I pushed past her and closed the door behind me. Elizabeth looked up absently.

"You are tired so i wont stay long. I merely wondered if you thought yourself well enough to attend the annual ball at my cousin's fiance's house tomorrow night."

"A ball?" Elizabeth asked. "That would be nice."